3 Years Later: Ron Johnson’s Vote Against the Violence Against Women Act is Remembered

MADISON – Today, we celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which has helped protect millions of women from abuse. Despite this success, in 2012 and 2013 Ron Johnson voted against the reauthorization of VAWA, which was voting against providing protection and assistance programs to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Despite the bill having broad bipartisan support, with 78 members of the Senate voting in favor of reauthorization, Ron Johnson said Democrats turned VAWA “into a divisive and highly partisan bill.”

Since VAWA’s original passage in 1994, millions of women have been protected from abuse and there has been a 50% reduction in the national rates of abuse against women.

VAWA strengthens the criminal justice response to abuse against women including increased rates of prosecution, convictions and sentencing and ensuring that victims and their family members have access to appropriate response services through tools such as the creation of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. In addition, states have reformed their laws to deter violence against women.

“We have seen such a beneficial impact from the passage of the Violence Against Women Act,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning said on Monday. “Women who have been abused deserve the protection that our government has traditionally offered under VAWA and it is sad that Senator Ron Johnson can’t see that. Luckily, but luckily we have representatives like Tammy Baldwin, Gwen Moore, and Ron Kind who helped pass this important legislation.”

"I hope you understand that I cannot be accountable for the job numbers," Walker said, according to Jardin

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